Heat exchange apparatus



Nov. 8, 1938.

WIT/V555.'

W. F. SCHROTH HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, y1957 '2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 8, 1938. w. F. scHRoTH 2,136,087

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Y /Mey q Q7 4 ram/fra.

Patented Nov. s, 193s UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE HEAT EXCHANGE ArPAaArus Applicants rem-um' 1e, 1931, sei-m N. 125,960

4 Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchange apparatus of atype involving the flow of liquid through a plurality of tubes of small diameter. Speciiically, the invention is applicable to surface condensers.

In heat exchange apparatus, such as surface condensers, in which flow of liquid is caused to take place through relatively small tubes, sedi.

ment, carried by the liquid or deposited therefrom as change of temperature of the liquid takes place,

will collect within the tubes and particularly adjacent their entrance portions. Sediment oi' this nature is distinct from scale in that it can be disturbed and removed if the ilow through the tubes is caused to take place in an opposite direction. Heretofore, accumulation of such-sediment has necessitated shutting down of the apparatus to permit removal of same.

It is the object of the present invention to provide for removal of sediment of the type indi. cated above by providing a reverse ow oi liquid without shutting down the apparatus.

The above object and other'objects of the invention, lparticularly relating to details of construction, willbe apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a surface condenser embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same, also partially broken away, showing the feed end of the condenser;

Figure 3 is an elevation of the opposite end showing.particularly the return box construction;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the arrangement ot gate controlling' means used in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 5 is a section taken on the plane indicated at 5-5 in Figure 4, but with the gate in its upper position.

The condenser illustrated in the drawings comprises a shell 2 provided with an upperinlet 4 for steam or other vapor which is to be condensed.

'Ihe condensate chamber 6 is provided with outlets for the removal et the condensed liquid. Air removal connections are indicated at 8.

At one end of the apparatus there is provided a box I0 divided into upper and lower chambers I4 and I6 by means o! a partition I2. Along the vertical center line there is provided a reenforcing web I1 provided with openings I8 furnishing connection between the two sides oi the chamber I4,

and an opening 28 providing connection between 86 the two sides of the chamber I8.

(Cl. 257-43) v Extending horizontally from a tube sheet forming the inside wall of chamber I4 are tnbes22, while, extending from the tube sheet forming the inner wall of chamber I6 are tubes 24. The tube sheets may be formed of a single plate. y 5

The tubes 22 and 24 connect with a return box 26, shown in Figure 3, which, though provided with reenforcing webs, nevertheless consists of a single chamber by reason of openings 28 provided in these webs. 10

Cooling water inlet and outlet conduits 33 and 32, respectively, are provided. The conduit 38 communicates through openings 34 and 36 with the chambers I4 and I 6, respectively, while the conduit 32 is in communication with the same 15 chambers through openings `38 and 48. Each of these pairs oi openings is controlled by means of va gate 42, as illustrated in Figure 4. Each gate driven through gears 52 and 54 by a hand wheel 25 I 56. In large installations, instead of hand wheels motor driving arrangements, remotely controlled, may be used.

In normal operation the gate controlling the inlet passage will be located in its upper position 30 and the gate controlling the outlet e in its lower position. As a result the coolingliquid will pass through the opening 36 into the' ilrst pass. consisting of tubes 24, thence through the box 28 into the second pass. consisting of tubes 22, 35' whence it will ilow out of chamber I4 through passage 38. It will be noted that this ow will provide counter-current action .between the incoming steam or vapor and the condensing liquid. At suitable periods the gates on the two sides of 40 the apparatus are oppositely moved, with the result that the chamber I4 will become the inilow chamber and the chamber I6 the outflow chamber, so that the flow through the tubes will be reversed and collected sediment will be washed 45 out through the outlet conduit 32. As soon as such cleanout' has been effected, the gates may be again restored to their original positions in order to gain the advantages of the counter-now arrangement. It will be obvious that the appa- 50 y ratus need not be closed down at any time for the removal oi' the collected sediment, since the gates may be moved simultaneously inl the space of a' few seconds to provide reversal o! flow. It will be clear that numerous variationsv may be made 55 in the speciiic embodiment of the invention without departing therefrom, also that this invention is by no means limited to a condenser, but is applicable to other cases of heat exchange apparatus in which sediment is to be removed from tubes. A

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Heat exchange apparatus including substantially horizontal tubes arranged for the passage therethrough of flowing liquid taking part in the heat exchange, upper and lower chambers, separated by a. laterally extending partition, at one end of the tubes, there being twovgroups of tubes, one group communicating with the upper chamber and the other group with the lower chamber, a common chamber for both groups of tubes at the other end thereof, means for passing uid through said apparatus successively about the groups of tubes for heat exchange with liquid in the tubes, liquid supply and liquid discharge conduits, and means for alternately connecting said upper 'and lower chambers with said supply and discharge conduits to provide reversal of liquid iiow through the tubes, the connections of the discharge conduit with said upper chamber being with the uppermost portions thereof to facilitate the removal of air therefrom, said last mentioned means comprising upwardly sliding valves arranged to control openings above and below said partition, one controlling ow into bothA said chambers from the supply conduit and the other controlling ow from both chambers into the discharge conduit, said discharge and supply conduits being located adjacent the opposite ends of said partition, so that cross ow of liquid through'said chambers may be provided when vide a lower chamber having side portions `extending upwardly above the central portion of the lower chamber to form a concavity receiving the lower central portion of the upper chamber, there being two groups of tubes, one group communicating with the upper chamber and the other group with the lower chamber, a common chamber for both groups of tubes at the other end thereof, means for passing iiuid through said apparatus successively about the groups of tubes for heat exchange with liquid in the tubes. liquid supply and discharge conduits, and 'means for alternately connecting said upper and lower chambers with said supply and discharge conduits to provide reversal of liquid flow through the tubes, the connections of the discharge conduit with both of said Achambers being at one side of said chambers at the uppermost portions thereof,

3. Heat exchange apparatus including substan- 'tially horizontal tubes arranged for the passage therethrough of ilowing liquid taking part in the heat exchange, upper and lower chambers, separated by a laterally extending partition, at one end of the tubes, said laterally extending partition having a depressed central portion to provide a lower chamber havingfaide portions extending upwardly-'above the central portion of the lower chamber to form a concavity receiving the lower central portion of the upper chamber, there being two groups of tubes, one group communicating with the upper chamber and the other group with the lower chamber, a common chamber for both groups of tubes at the other end thereof, means for passing iiuid through said apparatus successively about the groups of tubes for heat exchange with liquid in the tubes, liquid supply and discharge conduits, and means for alternately connecting said upper and lower Ochambers with said supply and discharge conduits to provide reversal of liquid ilow through the tubes, the connections of the discharge con-A duit with bothof said chambers being at one side of said chambers at the uppermost portions thereof, and the connections of the supply conduit with both of said chambers being at the opposite side of said chambers at the uppermost portions thereof.

4. Heat exchange apparatus including substantially vhorizontal tubes arranged for the passage therethrough of flowing liquid taking part in the heat exchange, upper and lower chambers, separated by a laterally extending partition, at one end of the tubes, said laterally extending partltion having a depressed central portion to provide a lower chamber having side portions extending upwardly above'the central portion of the lower chamber to form a concavity receiving the lower central portion of the upper chamber, there being two groups of tubes, one group communicating with the upper chamber and the other group with the lower chamber, a common chamber for both groups of tubes at the other end thereof, means for passing uid through said apparatus successively about the groups of tubes for heat exchange with liquid in the tubes, liquid adjacent the opposite ends of said partition atv the uppermost portions of the chambers, so that cross flow of liquid through said chambers may be effected'when said valves are in intermediate positions.

WILLIAM F. SCHROTH. 

